Garden guru to transform seaside site for free
The high-profile garden designer has also agreed to help boost Schull Tidy Town Committee’s fundraising efforts and help them realise their dream of transforming Cadogan’s Strand.
He has waived his fee and will deliver a one-day garden design course in Schull next week with all proceeds going towards the project.
He visited Cadogan’s Strand last week and is now working on a detailed landscape plan to transform the site.
The entire process will be filmed by a TV crew for a new series on RTÉ which will also feature Diarmuid transforming public spaces in Bandon, Waterford, and Dublin. The show, which is produced by Peter Mulryan in RTÉ Cork, is due to be screened in September.
Cadogan’s Strand on the eastern side of Schull provides the first view of the sea from its approach roads.
“From a visitor’s view point, it is the first glimpse one gets of Schull and the sea, and it is a lovely vista and deserves to give a good impression,” Schull Tidy Towns chairwoman Bridie Dalton said.
“People living locally use this area to swim but there are no facilities available for them to safely park or access the area.
“It is also used by small boats and kayaks and, again, there are no facilities for them.
“The land adjoining the strand is owned by Cork County Council and there had been a plan in place for them to develop this into a picnic area but we felt that this on its own would not do justice to the overall site.”
A group called The Friends of Cadogan’s Strand began work on developing the site about eight months ago.
Users of the strand and local residents were consulted. The group then secured planning permission from Cork County Council.
Plans and costings were drawn up, tenders obtained and the plans were submitted to the West Cork Development Partnership for financial support under the Rural Development Programme (RDP).
It is believed this groundwork strengthened the group’s bid to get Diarmuid Gavin involved.
The overall cost of the project is expected to be €67,000. Once approved, 75% of the funding will come from RDP.
The rest will be raised locally. And that’s where Diarmuid Gavin comes in again.
He will host a one-day Design Your Own Garden workshop in Schull on Sunday, April 18, in the Harbour View Hotel from 10am-5pm. The cost is €120 and includes lunch.
Places are limited and can be booked by phoning Aileen at 086-1566340 or email aileenmaguire@hotmail.com.
